Huge E3 Updates and Summary!!Well, if E3 this year didn't satisfy
your MK craving, I don't know what could! Present were incomplete
X-Box and Playstation 2 versions of MK: Deadly
Alliance, and although I was unable to go to the show, a lot
happened that I am lucky enough to share with you because TRMK.org
(new address) and MK5.org
were nice enough to share what they got from the Midway
booth with other MK sites. So, without further adieu, here is the
massive E3 wrap-up that the MK Empire has taken much time and effort
to compile. It is condensed on this page, but links can be followed
into the new MK: Deadly Alliance E3 Section
for more of what you want. Enjoy, and have a good Memorial Day!

The "Sights" of E3:

Thanks to both TRMK.org
and MK5.org, I was able
to borrow almost 80 screenshots
from the X-Box and Playstation 2 versions (not GameCube) that they took
at Midway's booth at E3. As you can see, the pictures range from
the Select Screen, the Start Screen, loading screens, victory poses, and
of course the fights. In order as they appear, here is what each
picture tells us:

-The Select Screen: At E3, 8 of
20 characters were playable, but special moves were disabled. The
new Select Screen that MK: DA boasts allows the player to view character
stats before he or she is chosen, a new feature in the MK series.
Each character has 2 fighting styles and a weapon style. Much speculation
has gone into exactly who the darkened faces are on the screen, but after
lots of guesses and rumors all over the internet, the list seems to go
as follows:Updated: TOP ROW - Johnny
Cage (?) (Edge Magazine was right), Scorpion, Sonya, Jax, Blind Kenshi
(not finalized name), Quan Chi, Li Mei, Sub-Zero, Shang Tsung, and Kitana.Updated: BOTTOM ROW - Kano,
Cyrax (?), Mavado (name changed), Moloch, drunk guy (no name yet), Raiden,
Drahmin, Reptile, a female Sub-Zero (no name yet), and Kung Lao.

-The Start Screen: The first ever
pictures of the incomplete Start Screen have emerged from E3. As
of now, there are a lot of new options that MK has never before used in
any of its games, and caption boxes pop up to explain what each allows
you to do. Only the "Versus" mode was playable at E3. Each
mode is as follows:ARCADE - single player versus given
number of computer opponents.VERSUS - classic 1-on-1 two player
mode.THE KRYPT - play missions to earn
credit as you work your way around challenges in training-like mode to
unlock "Kontent" and "Extras".PLAYER PROFILE - store settings
for your game and players you have used before with pin numbers (maybe
memory card compatible).OPTIONS - set the game the way
you want, like controls, difficulty, see high scores, etc.KONTENT - see never before seen
pictures and artwork of the game.EXTRAS - possibly never before
seen videos to watch, behind-the-scenes footage, and maybe "Kombat Theater"
like MK4 for character endings.

-Loading Screens: As with any CD
game, both the X-Box and Playstation 2 versions of MK: DA will have loading
screens. Here we see a loading screen with a picture of Moloch, but
we know that every character has his or her own loading screen that comes
up randomly. I heard that loading times at E3 were real bad, but
Midway expects to cut them down by 75% before the game comes out in the
Fall.

-Victory Screens: As always, the
winner of a match gets his or her camio. Here we see Jax is his win
pose and alternate costume; supposedly, if the camera gets too close, he
hits it away. We now know that a lot of characters have the same
win pose, but each character has multiple and different ones as well, so
you could win with Sub-Zero in round one and he will lift his hands up,
but in round two he may look down at the camera and breathe cold breath
into it.

-The Fights: What MK coverage would
be complete without the screenshots of the action? The two pics above
show Scorpion using his weapon on Shang Tsung and Jax kicking his opponent
into an invisible barrier wall. We now know that MK: DA has barriers
around arenas that keep fighters in certain spots that would otherwise
screw up the match. Maybe the invisible walls cause damage too.
Check out the graphics... damn!

The "Sounds" of E3:Despite three days of activity
at E3, not much for audio was available to anyone. But, ]{ombat
of MK5.org did manage to
run into Ed Boon on the floor and pull him aside for a little bit to talk
to him about MK: Deadly Alliance. You can download the interview
from this link,
which provides you an .mp3 formatted sound file of the interview that is
a little under 4 MB. Enjoy.

The "Nitty Gritty" of the game
at E3:Well, E3 sported 6 stations to
play MK: Deadly Alliance on at Midway's booth. 3 versions were for
the X-Box and the other 3 were for the Playstation 2, but they were only
incomplete demo versions. A trailer was also continuously running
at the booth for the 3 days, and a model dressed up as Li Mei was there
to pose for the camera :). With that said, here is a run-down of
the game so far:

GRAPHICS - As you can see from the
screenshots, MK: Deadly Alliance looks very promising on the next-generation
systems. Characters, arenas, and fighting styles are very detailed.
The demo version included highly graphic blood, which drips down players
as the match progresses and also stays on the floor into the next round,
sweat, spit, breath, snow, dust, mist, and many other things you can imagine
MK could have. The only things missing as of now is the ability to
see real-time bruises, cuts, and tears in clothes, but Midway will be implementing
all of this within the upcoming months. As for stages, we now know
that besides the ones we have already seen, there will be plenty of returning
classics as well. Expect to see an updated Soul Chamber of MK3, an
updated Portal Stage of MK2, as well as temples, the Kuatan Palace, the
Acid Bath, the Lava Shrine, the Wu Shi Academy, and much more. All stages
will be very detailed and may possibly include the ability to interact
with objects and crash through walls and ceilings.

CONTROL - E3 allowed people to play
both X-Box and Playstation 2 versions of the game. The controls were
the basic D-Pads that we know of, and the default settings are the same
on both systems. Five buttons are dedicated to attacks, one to block,
and one to switch styles (which, by the way, changes a character's position,
attakcs, and combo style). Each fighter has 3 styles as of now, 2
be a hand-to-hand style and the other a weapon-wielding style. Paying
attention to the detail, Midway made it so that certain styles work better
or worse against certain opponents, so this MK game will be more challenging
to master than any other of the past. One big update to the control
scheme, however, is a change in the D-Pad settings. While forward
and back are still same, up and down now allows the player to move in 3D
directionals in and out. By pressing up and forward simultaneously,
the character flips forward; by pressing up and back simultaneously, the
character flips backward. Jumping straight upward does not exist
anymore, which isn't that big of a deal anyway. To duck, you now
have to press down and back simultaneously or down and forward simultaneously,
since down moves you out in 3D. But overall, these changes are easy
to learn quickly, and if you are having a hard time, there's always ways
to customize the buttons in the "Options" menu.

SOUND - What else can you say but
"Wow"? MK: Deadly Alliance sports really good sound effects, and
even though E3 was loud and full of people, we know that the audio is great.
From the grunts and groans to the slashes of the weapons, everything is
sweet. The announcer from MK4 is back to narrate the game, and the
band Adema is definately doing the main theme song "Immortal" for MK: DA.
They performed live atE3 and have admitted that they
are hardcore MK fans.

GAMEPLAY - Despite bad loading times
at E3, Midway promises that this will be fixed. They also said that
a GameCube version was not playable because they were still tweaking the
game, but don't worry, it will be released on time. At E3,
there were 8 playable characters - Scorpion, Jax, Sonya, Blind Kenshi,
Quan Chi, Li Mei, Sub-Zero, and Shang Tsung. Altogether, there are
twenty regular characters as of now and an unknown number of hidden characters.
We already knew that Kitana, Reptile, Rayden, and a female Sub-Zero were
in the game, but E3 revealed 2 new characters to us: Johnny Cage
and Kano. ::Sigh:: I have no comment on this. Though
special moves and fatalities were not working at E3, the hand-to-hand combat
was deadly. The weapons system is similar to that of MK4, which allows
for the dropping and picking up of weapons. We now know that Midway
is planning to implement a special ring-out in the game, where players
can be knocked out of an arena into other arenas, pits, or acid.
Right now, there is an invisible barrier around each stage that illuminates
when a character is hit against it, but Midway claims that this feature
will be customizable in the home versions so that certain sensitivities
can be implemented or the barrier system can be turned on or off.
As for as background interaction goes, Boon hopes to have lots of it, and
he's working on Matrix-style slow-motion animation during the fights.
The combos system is like that of MK3 and MK4, where the number of hits
and damage percentages are shown after a combo is performed. A new
feature is that individual fighting styles can be change mid-combo to hook
together hits and increase damage on an opponent. This emphasizes
the skill needed to perform certain combos during a match. With this,
we know that each style changes how hits are delivered, meaning that one
style may favor punches, while another is more of a kicking style.
And, to finish up, "Flawless Victory" is indeed back in MK: DA (seen in
the pic above), and the game is following a storyline which was mostly
created by who else but John Vogel.

OVERALL - To wrap up, I just have
to say that even though the version of MK: Deadly Alliance at E3 was only
about 40% complete, it looks really amazing. This is the game we
have all been waiting for to revolutionize the MK series and all fighting
games to come. Midway promises to make this game dark, gory, and
perfect, and though some tweaking needs to be done, so far this path seems
attainable. We now just have to sit back and wait as the Fall months
arrive and MK: Deadly Alliance hits the shelves. Will it be all that
the hype says it is? Only time will tell.

The Wrap-up of E3:With E3 complete, I just want to
list a few important things that may not have been said before or need
to be emphasized for their importance.-Blind Kenshi's name is going to
change; the one he has now is only temporary.-Malvado's name is now Mavado,
without the "L".-The female Sub-Zero has no name
yet, but the final name will tie into the 3rd MK movie.-Moloch is confirmed as a sub-boss,
but the head boos is unknown.-Kano and Johnny Cage are back
from the pits of dead characters.-One character in MK: DA is supposedly
a drunk guy.-Fighter's styles carry over into
the next round, and matches fade into each other.-The rumored MK Compilation CD/DVD
for next-gen systems is possible according to Ed Boon, but as of now it's
not likely and hasn't been discussed yet? It's possible, though,
that all past MK games could be put in the MK: DA game as playable versions
in the "Extras" section.-A PC version of MK: DA is not
likely, according to Boon.-Right now, the X-Box version is
a little better graphic wise than the Playstation 2 version.-The game is only about 40% complete.

My Opinions:Okay, so E3 is over and I'm impressed
considering Mortal Kombat wasn't even there last year. But, before
I conclude this massive E3 post, I just want to put my 2 cents in before
I stop and maybe spark some discussion in the MK world with some questions.
A few things I need to say are:1.) This MK looks and feels
a lot like Tekken, a game that I personally don't like because it's too
slow. I hope it's not like this when it comes out.2.) What happened to having
the majority of new characters? Bringing back Kano and Johnny Cage?
Hell no!3.) The game is supposed
to be dark, so why do we have bright neon colors following the weapons
when they move?4.) The select screen is
alright, but I don't think character stats are really needed in MK.FIN.) Okay, I think that's
it. I know that Midway still has many months left to fix up the game,
so I'm hoping that that's what they do. I can also say this: I guarantee
that the game will change, and the select screen will change too.
Characters will be swapped, taken out, put in, etc., so although I am pissed
that we have Kano and Cage back, we have seen before instances where characters
have only been in E3 versions to fill up space, only to get deleted later
on (i.e. Noob Saibot in MK4). So, there's still plenty of time to
see changes happen in MK: Deadly Alliance... both good and bad. Now
we wait.

Official MK: DA site adds new pics and character
biosOn the first day of the E3 convention,
the official MK: Deadly
Alliance website updated with 2 nice new pictures of a new
stage called the Wu Shi Academy, an outdoor fighting arena that is a stretched
out canvas suspended over an abyss, as well as with a new character bios
section for all of the confirmed characters in the game. The bios
section also has things like character sketches, stories, information on
fighting styles, and other little things to poke around for. Make
sure you check out this new "Game Info" to get the full scoop on the stories
behind the fighters, and check out the Wu Shi Academy pics right here in
the MK Empire's MK: Deadly Alliance stages
section.

GameSpot releases updated MK: Deadly Alliance
video and newsGameSpot
must have seen their video at Midway,
because right after that happened they released a new MK:
Deadly Alliance video on their pay site, GameSpot
Complete. It's basically the same as the one they released
a few days ago, but it has no intro, shows Li Mei and Mavado in action,
and cuts out the music a bit, emphasizing the grunts and groans of the
game and some projectile and deadly weapons moves. Also, they've
updated with some new
information pertaining to a newer version of MK:
Deadly Alliance. So yeh, I know that you have to pay
for this movie as well, but thanks to some good guys on the net, there
are ways to get around that
:).

Midway updates MK: Deadly Alliance site and
posts videoBefore E3 even began, Midway
went and made much needed improvements to their main site, as well as the
MK:
Deadly Alliance section of the site. It now loads much
better than the older version that they had, and they were nice enough
to add 4 new (but old) MK: DA screenshots, new information, 2 different
free links to the video
which was released last week at GameSpot
Complete, and some other little things as well. Check
it out if you're curious.

Edge Magazine covers MK: Deadly AllianceIt seems that the June, 2002 issue
of Edge Magazine had a small article covering MK:
Deadly Alliance titled "MK: DA: The Komeback". It gave
the basic history of Mortal Kombat, as well as screenshots we've already
seen before. But, 2 new things that it had were a sketch of the Acid
Bath stage and a sketch of Quan
Chi's Palace. Another new piece of information was the
mentioning of Johnny Cage as a returning character in MK: Deadly
Alliance. Is this true? We'll have to wait and see. Credit
goes out to Adam Barnett
for the heads up and Mechi for the scans, which can be seen in the
MK:
Deadly Alliance sketches section.

May 20, 2002

GameSpot releases new MK: Deadly Alliance video
and screenshotsJust two days ago, GameSpot
was nice enough to add 6
more screenshots to their MK:
Deadly Alliance section of the site. Not all of them
are brand new, but the new ones are really clear and show recent clips
from the game as it stands now, complete with new and improved lifebars,
injuries, character faces, projectiles, and the dragon logo. Hurry
up to see these pics because after this week, they become a part of GameSpot's
pay-to-view site, GameSpot
Complete. Also, as part of GameSpot Complete, a new in-game
video of MK: Deadly Alliance
has been posted up for those who pay for this service. This new,
1:10 long (GameCube?) video is what all MK fans have been waiting for and
is possibly the best MK video ever released to date! The fright is
back, the blood is back, special moves, weapons, combo percentages, updated
lifebars and character faces, groans, grunts, and much, much more!
Many sites have been posting numerous stills from this video since it is
only attainable to paying viewers, and I also managed to get some stills
which can be found in the MK: Deadly
Alliance screenshot section of this site (thanks GameSpot).
But, as for the video, I guess you should pay the fee to see it, but I'm
sure there are ways to get around that ::cough::MKX.org::cough::Scorpion's
Realm:: ... ahem, sorry. So, sign up for GameSpot Complete
now since the month of May is free to new users (so basically sign up now
and then before May 31st cancel the subscription and you shouldn't get
charged). And remember, expect even better videos after E3
rolls away, and be on the look out for this video to appear at the official
MK: Deadly Alliance website in the future, but until then,
get this video now... if you can?!

New MK: Deadly Alliance video in PSM magazineOn May 15th, the June, 2002 issue
of PSM DVD magazine
came out with an interactive CD/DVD packaged inside of it. On it,
we are able to see the first-ever in-game
video of MK: Deadly Alliance,
complete with about 10 seconds of fighting action and rock music.
The video is supposedly of the Playstation 2 version, but it is an older
clip that does not have blood, injuries, or lifebars shown. Still,
it is worth viewing because so far the game looks intense. So, go
out and buy this magazine so you can see this video for yourself, or use
the link
provided by MK5.org, because
they may possibly still have it up somewhere.

New character revealed in Game InformerThe recent release of the June,
2002 issue of Game Informer
magazine as promised has a decent article on MK:
Deadly Alliance. While much of the information is already
known to us, the best thing they reveal is a new female character by the
name of Li Mei. She appears to be a "partially" dressed woman
with a purple top and pants, and she has a taste for kicking butt.
Could she be the sister of/female Sub-Zero that we've all been waiting
for? Who knows, but stay tuned as we unravel more in the future.

Overhaul of the MK: Deadly Alliance sectionJust a reminder that over the next
couple of days the MK: Deadly Alliance
section will be undergoing some needed updates. You may
already notice that many more different types of pictures sections have
been put up, as well as some new information, characters, AIM icons, and
multimedia. Make sure you check out this new stuff if you have time,
and keep checking back as changes are made frequently.

Ex-Midway staffers create Tao Feng gameRemember way back when John Tobias,
Josh Tsui, and Dave Michicich left Midway
to pursue career plans of their own? Well, recently TRMK
reported that the French site NewTechnix
posted four screenshots
of an X-Box game called Tao Feng. Released by Studio
Gigante, it is the first fighting game that the ex-Midway members
have created since their departure, and in my opinion it looks kind of
like a rip of MK, but a rip with better graphics and fighters. Just
see for yourself by checking out the pics, and expect more from E3.

May 9, 2002

3 new MK: Deadly Alliance picturesI know it was a while ago, but
the official MK: Deadly
Alliance website updated with 3 new pictures from the upcoming
game. Two of the pictures are more screenshots, the first of Kung
Lao fighting Blind Kenshi, and the second of Scorpion
fighting Jax. These two screenshots were previously published
in the most recent issue of GamePro
magazine. The third picture, however, is a new render
of Sub-Zero with his
mask, large blue scar, and glowing fists. It's a nice render and
worth a look, and the same goes for the screenshots. So, make sure
to check out the official MK: Deadly Alliance website for regular updates,
as well as our MK: Deadly Alliance pictures
section for any new images we get.

MK: Deadly Alliance is PSM magazineIt seems that the June issue of
PSM
magazine has gone all out and done a pretty big spread on MK:
Deadly Alliance. Besides having new screenshots from
the now "40% complete" Playstation 2 version, the issue also reveals the
return of Sonya Blade, the final look of Malvado wearing a Black Dragon
symbol, some new arenas, and finally some images with blood. I don't
know about anyone else, but I was starting to wonder if MK: Deadly Alliance
even had blood, since going for a more realistic fighting style would mean
not so much... splatter. But, blood is back in full force, so everybody
can breathe easy. Credit goes out to TRMK
for this bit of news.

MK: Deadly Alliance to show at E3A while back, Midway
announced that they will be showing MK:
Deadly Alliance at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los
Angeles, California from May 22nd-24th. This event is very good for
game exposure and promises to show some great things about the next MK
installment. While, of course, I personally can't go and be there
live, be sure that the MK Empire will have all the latest information and
possibly pictures from the Playstation 2, GameCube, and X-Box versions
if and when they pop up. So, get ready for the show, and if you have
the chance to go to the expo, feel free to drop
me a line with any news, comments, or pictures that you may
get.

Test #15 upOkay, as promised, I have posted
Test
#15. Before I tell you what it asks, the answer to Test
#14 was Zebron; this was the name of the character in the sketch.
This test had an overwhelming amount of participants, so thanks for the
support. Now, for Test #15, the question is "How many past MK games
has Scorpion been in (as a playable character)?" If you think you
know, go over to the Test section
and submit your answer. Good luck!